The Influence of Long-Term Use Of High-Heeled Shoes for Women`s Posture and Lower Extremity Muscle Strength

Abstract

Background. Wearing high-heeled shoes can cause posture distortions: the head position is tilted forward, increased lordosis of the lumbar spine anterior pelvic tilt, knees flexed with some knee ‘varus’, hyper-supination of the foot (Pannell, 2012). These changes cause muscle imbalance: abdominal core muscles, upper back erectors spinae get elongated and weakened, gluteal muscles are weakened. Hamstrings get slightly elongated but are not necessarily weakened. Hip flexors and lower back muscles get shortened and strengthened. Soleus and gastrocnemius muscles get shortened and strengthened. Aim of the study was to determine the long-term effect of wearing high-heeled shoes on women’s leg muscles and posture. Methods. Twenty nine women took part in the study. They were divided into two groups: those who met the research criteria and wore high heeled shoes and those, who did not. We used a questionnaire to assign participants to one of the research groups, and measured muscle strength using a hand-held dynamometer, we measured pressure distribution in a specifc foot area using a “Matscan” mat and evaluated posture according W. K. Hoeger’s method. Results. Strength of only three muscle groups differed between women wearing and not wearing high heels, muscle strength of thigh flexors, shin erector and feet plantar flexors in women regularly wearing high heels were greater compared to women that did not wear high heels. Measurements of static feet load distribution showed that in women wearing high-heeled shoes, 71.01% of weight went on heels and only 28.98% ‒ on toes and forefoot, while in women not wearing high heels weight was distributed equally ‒ 49.28% goes on heels and 50.72% on toes and forefeet. Study results showed that 41.3% of women regularly wearing high-heeled shoes had excellent posture, while 45.7% of women not wearing high-heeled shoes had excellent posture. Conclusions. Muscle strength of thigh flexors, shin erector and feet plantar flexors in women regularly wearing high heels was greater compared to women that did not wear high heels. Feet static support centre in women, who regularly wore high heeled shoes was distributed towards the heel while feet static support centre in women not wearing high heels was distributed equally along the foot. There were no signifcant differences evaluating posture in women wearing and not wearing high heels. The most common posture problems in women regularly wearing high-heeled shoes were: knees in varus position, head and abdomen in protraction, and increased lumbar lordosis.

Keywords: high-heeled shoes, posture, muscle strength.